Wow.

Pretty darn neat! Thanks for sharing Viper.

Reminds me of when the Gripen was first built back in the late 80's and the cockpit looked like the Starship Enterprice of its time with three huge MFD's. This cockpit has to be one of the coolest I've seen yet though, can't wait to build a pit like that at home one day (when the Tbirds switch to 35's some 10-15 years from now... ).

Is there a related article @ Code One Magazine?

Sure would be easier to replicate a pit like that... but I love the F-16's steam gauges.

Great shot. Interesting way that the canopy folds... can anyone think of another aircraft that does it like that?

Lawndart wrote:Is there a related article @ Code One Magazine?

I would post it but half their archives section is down.

That's a very cool pit, nice find Viper

TWC_Cobra wrote:Great shot. Interesting way that the canopy folds... can anyone think of another aircraft that does it like that?

Don't some of the Extra 300 canopies open that way?

In anycase it looks like they switched to this type of design to elliminate the det cord on the canopy. If a canopy hinges on the side or slides fore/aft (like a harrier pit) then they have to use plastic explosive cord to blow a hole in the canopy glass for ejection. The YF-35 had a side hinge design until recently.

No HUD?
or am I blind?
Assuming I'm not blind, the pilots would probably use a helmet mounted display...

Cool!

And will they ever fix it so the pilots can look behind them? or have they?

Doesn't really look too easy to see behind you...

It is a helmet mounted system. That said you'd be surprised at how small HUDs can get. Also, I don't know the reasoning for vidsibility, but consider the designed use of the F35. I'm pretty sure it's not designed for dogfighting, more standoff long range, so in theory rear visibility might not be relevant.

Mach327 wrote:No HUD?
or am I blind?
Assuming I'm not blind, the pilots would probably use a helmet mounted display...

FighterOps boards: F-35 Helmet thread

It has some funny references too, comparing it to the Darth Vader's wingmen in "Star Wars" and also being built for "Hellboy"...

Gunner wrote:Sure would be easier to replicate a pit like that... but I love the F-16's steam gauges.

So true Gunner, so true! The F-16 cockpit is just plain awesome as it is, but the MFD's in the F-35 are pretty cool. Look at both side-by-side and see the drastic reduction in switches on the side panels Most are incorporated into the touch-screen MFD's. That's another thing I love about the F-16s pit, switches everywhere!

So what are you supposed to do when the jet gets hit by lightning? Lick your finger and stick it out the window and try to judge your speed?

Rhino wrote:So what are you supposed to do when the jet gets hit by lightning? Lick your finger and stick it out the window and try to judge your speed?

LMAO!

TWC_Cobra wrote:Great shot. Interesting way that the canopy folds... can anyone think of another aircraft that does it like that?

High tech gliders do

Rhino wrote:So what are you supposed to do when the jet gets hit by lightning? Lick your finger and stick it out the window and try to judge your speed?

ROFL!!!!!